Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

81%

53

I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

3/6

11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

81%%

+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

going batshit

I refuse to let that

her. "I like being a feral

hands on her hips, tilting her head like she's about

Ted Talk on how to stop

to clear your head. And what better way to do

something physical?"

narrow my eyes. "...Define

She grins, all teeth.

I won't

fucking knew I

we step inside, the air changes-charged, thick with

It smells like leather, metal, and aggression. The overhead

casting jagged shadows across the

well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through the speakers, heavy bass shaking the

by the sounds of fists slamming into flesh, grunts of pain, the

of referees

a goddamn underground

turn to

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to an

ring," she corrects.

her. Then the ring. Then back

the fuck is

dismissive

figured

voice cuts

going to kill you when she finds

I whip around.

next to the ring, arms crossed, expression

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

Zoe. "You planned

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

4/6

25

Chapter 76

hands up. "What

like

pause. Slowly turn back

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

looks at me. And then past

And

way his gaze settles-steady, knowing-makes

stomach

drop.

crawls up my spine. "Jacob," I say carefully.

fighting anyone

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I hear

through the thick air

the match you've

erupts. The crowd

81%8

the ring. Two fighters

then, without warning, they

It's not a sport.

It's war.

English guy lands a hook to the

I swear I feel it. The Italian retaliates,

and slamming him into the

My stomach churns.

fight. This is barely legal

I hiss. "I want to

grabbing my arm. "Just... wait.

don't fucking

knockout. The Italian

The crowd goes wild.

announcer's

a challenger unlike any

The lights cut out.